Buy good just now or build up?

ohara227

Hi,

Advise please. I am doing circ 1000miles over 2 weeks in Sept next year on the Eurovelo 5, till now I have been looking at getting a Giant Defy 2.5 which are now sold out at activesport and fear I may need to seek a Defy 2. I was drawn to this due to the good spec, however experience tells me with the amount of training I need to do, something might need replaced before the event.

Therefore should I be looking for something just now with full Tiagra set and carbon fork in the sales and hope it lasts, or get something like a Defy 4 and upgrade as needed...to be honest looking to spend under £600 just now and allocate up to £150 of any upgrades over the year.

I guess if you buy good it lasts and I look after my gear, but a year of training then 1000 miles cycle might be a bit much for cheaper parts I think.

Any views welcome please.

Thanks

gregster10217

I'd put the £150 you're putting aside for upgrades into your purchase now and get the best you can for £750 or thereabouts. Nothing should wear out to the point it needs replacing, just make sure you keep it well maintained, serviced by your LBS unless you're happy doing it yourself, and just get out there and enjoy training.
I'd feel happy enough looking after it well during training, and then doing 1000 over 2 weeks that nothing too much unusual would go wrong.

ohara227

Thanks, I was thinking that. I really like the Defy range and was gutted when the guy eventually admitted he never had any 2.5s left. Need to hunt down a Defy 2 for cheap...

I will train in the mean time once my back gets better on my Trance X2 MTB, which is a full susser hence need for a road bike. Had great experiences with Giant bikes, hope it stays that way!

doktorsteve

I have a Giant SCR LTD. Carbon forks, carbon seatpost, full Tiagra. IF you can get that spec on Defy then you won't go far wrong. Probably not the lightest bike around but it has a fairly compliant yet quite lively ride. I expect the Defys are similar. Also it felt weirdly familiar after my Giant Boulder.